WESTBURY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- The family of a Long Island man who was violently pulled into an MRI machine last week says he was attached to the machine for nearly an hour and had several heart attacks before he died.
In a GoFundMe post, the family identified the victim as Keith McAllister and said the machine’s “magnet sucked him in” by a neck chain as he was helping his wife during a July 16 visit at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury.
As the family makes funeral arrangements for McAllister, they have retained an attorney, Michael Lauterborn, who called the incident “preventable” and said the family is “devastated and seeking answers.”
“This heartbreaking incident highlights the critical importance of safety protocols in medical imaging facilities. The family and our legal team are dedicated to assisting the appropriate authorities in their investigation and in efforts to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future,” the attorney said in a statement to 1010 WINS on Wednesday. Read the full statement below.
MRIs, short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, use extremely powerful magnets to see inside the body without using radiation. Anyone who enters them is asked to remove all metallic objects from their body.
McAllister was wearing a “large metallic chain” at the time—reportedly 20 pounds—which caused him to be sucked into the imaging machine, Nassau County police said.
In the GoFundMe post, a family member wrote: “My mother and the tech tried for several minutes to release him before the police were called. He was attached to the machine for almost an hour before they could release the chain from the machine.”
The 61-year-old died from his injuries a hospital the next day, police said.
The family disputed an account from police that he wasn't unauthorized to enter the room at the time, saying, “the technician went and brought him into the room.”
Nassau Open MRI declined to comment when 1010 WINS reached out last week. The business didn't immediately answer by phone Wednesday.
Here's the full statement from the family's attorney:
Statement Regarding the Tragic Incident at Nassau Open MRI
The McAllister family and their friends are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Mr. Keith McAllister, who passed away following a preventable incident at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, New York. We ask the public and friends to keep Mr. McAllister’s wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, and the entire family in their thoughts and prayers during this profoundly difficult time. The family is truly grateful for the outpouring of heartfelt condolences received from the community and from across the country.
At this time, the focus remains on supporting the McAllister family. Both the family and our team at Smith, Cheung & Lauterborn PC are committed to ensuring that all facts surrounding this incident are thoroughly investigated by the Nassau County Police Department and the New York State Department of Health.
This heartbreaking incident highlights the critical importance of safety protocols in medical imaging facilities. The family and our legal team are dedicated to assisting the appropriate authorities in their investigation and in efforts to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The family is devastated and seeking answers. On their behalf, we respectfully request that the media honor their privacy as they grieve and await further information.
Further updates and statements will be provided as appropriate.